Rocky Mountain Grip Sport 4th Annual Summer Grip Challenge

I ventured back to Carbondale for another fun grip event.  Instead of going up the night before, I drove up in the morning and the 2.75 hour drive was pretty easy.  I think I prefer cold energy drinks to warm coffee when driving.  I arrived a little early and got settled in before weighing in 92.9 kg (just making the 93kg weight class) and warming up.

The field was smaller and included Steve (host), Jeremey (host), Jesse and myself.  The competition was not much of a competition due to Steve still recovering from a torn bicep and Jesse nursing an injured A2 pulley on his right ring finger.

We performed the following lifts:

Competition

• Double Shallow Inch (AASS)
• 2-3/8" Wrist Wrench (AASS)
• Horne Top (Horne)

Records

• 2x5 Saxon (CTS)
• The Payne (AASS)
• Inch Hold for Time (?)
• Apollon's Axle (IronMind)
• Gold Bar (Horne)

2" x 5" Saxon Bar

I really liked the 2" Saxon Bar to lockout.  I had never trained with one.  I made 61.4, 65.4, 71.4 before missing 75.4kg.  71.4 kg = 157.4 lbs.  Jesse skipped this lift.  Jeremy and Steve tied at 111.4 kg.  Cue to try to bend the bar to get locked in really engaging the pinky fingers.

Double Shallow Inch Pinch

I was more comfortable with the double shallow inch pinch (6" lift).  I made 19.5, 22, 24.5, 27, 29.5 and finally 33 kg (72.7 lbs PR!) which absolutely blasted my personal best at home of 55.6 lbs.  Steve won this event at 50.5kg, followed by Jeremy and Jesse at 45.0 and 41.0kg respectively.  No coaching cues.

2-38" Wrist Wrench

Next we went to the 2-3/8" Wrist Wrench (6" lift).  At home I was making 57.5 lbs.  In the competition I made 25 and 27.5 before missing 30 kg.  27.5kg = 60.6 pounds which was another PR!  Jesse skipped this one.  Jeremy won the event at 47kg followed by Steve at 45kg.  No coaching cues, but set up should be level and minimize diameter by not overlapping the wrap.

The Payne

Next we went to The Payne (6" lift).  This was an John Oka designed implement fabricated by Arm Assassin Strength Shop.  It was new to me and I was pleased to make 10.8 and 11.8 before failing 12.8kg.  I hit the crossbar with 12.8 kg, but did not control the descent.  Steve won the event at 23.5kg, followed by Jeremy at 22.0 kg, followed by Jesse at 19.85kg.  Jesse tore some of the webbing on his hand, kind of ruining what was left of the competition for him.  Steve attempted 24.5 kg which would have tied Jason Dingey's world record.  Cue to really engage hand webbing.

Horne

Finally, we finished with the Horne Top (10" lift).  I had practiced with the is some and had made 108.5 lbs in training.  In competition, I made 50.35, 52.35, 55.35 before missing 57.35kg.  55.35kg = 122.0 lbs which was another huge PR!  Steve was top dog at 93.35kg followed by Jeremy at 58.35 kg.  Cue to grab higher on the implement.

Inch Hold for Time

Inch Hold for Time was performed by Steve and Jeremy.  Steve got 4.23 seconds which did not beat his previous record.  Jeremy set a record at 6.76 seconds.  This was an interesting lift with quarters balanced on the bell to represent control.

Double Overhand Axle DL

Finally, Jeremy attempted the Apollon's Axle, but could not beat his previous best record.

With Jesse only completing one of the three events, I "won" the 93 kg and under.

Steve "won" the over 93kg with a GSI score of 295.7 over Jeremy at 251.6.

Records Session

Jesse had a 66kg record in the Double Shallow Inch Pinch and The Payne

Steve beat his previous 105kg record in the Horne Top and established the record in The Payne

The drive back was equally uneventful.  I stopped in Frisco for a sandwich and still made the drive in just about 3 hours.

Another perk of the event was getting a genuine Otevoima Finnish Ball to train for this year's King Kong.

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On a final note, I am teetering on the edge of being an experienced grip athlete:

• 2019 King Kong
• 2023 King Kong
• 2024 Rolling Hills Grip Challenge 2
• 2024 Dubs Grip Classic
• 2024 Rocky Mountain Grip Sport 4th Annual Summer Grip Challenge

In addition to these live events, I participated in Joe Hodgson's four hand flask challenge and Elite Grip Societies four week online challenge.

I have yet to compete in Armlifting USA, but they sponsored some great events as well.

USAWA also has an annual grip championship that I went to in 2024.  This does not include grip implements, but instead lifts that are typically limited by grip strength such as 1 hand vertical bar, axle bar, rim lift, and plate pinches.